Tashkent to Buka and Akkurgan: Getting to the South of Tashkent Region

The south of the Tashkent region is a plain between the Chirchik, the Akhangaran and the Syr Darya, where fields, orchards and villages run almost without a break. Buka and Akkurgan are two notable district towns in this part of the region. People travel there to see relatives, for work, for the bazaars and to their country plots, and at weekends the road south gets noticeably busier. Here is how to get there from the capital and how to choose the best option.

Distances and travel times

Times depend heavily on where in Tashkent you set off: at rush hour, getting from the centre to the city limits can take as long as the rest of the trip to the district town.

Getting out of Tashkent

This is the key tip for the southern route: the slowest part is leaving the city. On weekday mornings and Friday evenings traffic on Tashkent's southern exits is heavy. So:

• leave before 7:30 or after 10:00 if you are travelling in the morning;
• on Friday evening allow an extra 30 to 40 minutes;
• on Sunday evening the road back into Tashkent is at its busiest.

Getting to Akkurgan

Akkurgan lies south of Tashkent, closer to the Syr Darya. It is a farming district of fields and orchards.

• Buses and minibuses leave from the main bus station and from stands on the city's southern exits. They run during the day, but not very often, especially in the afternoon.
• Shared taxis are a popular option: cars collect passengers and leave when full.
• Shared rides. Yo'ldosh lists the Tashkent to Akkurgan route: choose a time and book a seat with a driver heading to the district.

Getting to Buka

Buka is a district town in the south of the region, in the lower Akhangaran valley. It is a quiet town with a bazaar and orchards all around.

• Buses and minibuses run from the main bus station and the southern stands; some go via neighbouring districts, which makes the trip longer.
• Shared taxis are faster, especially outside rush hour.
• Shared rides. The Tashkent to Buka route is also on Yo'ldosh. It is handy if you are travelling with bags or children and do not want to change vehicles.

What to see in the south of the region

These are not tourist spots, but a day trip has its pleasures:

• Bazaars. District bazaars are a great place to buy fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy products and bread for less than in the capital.
• Orchards and melon fields. In summer and autumn, melons, watermelons, grapes and apples are sold by the road straight from the fields.
• Rivers. The southern part of the region lies between the Akhangaran and the Syr Darya. You can picnic on the banks, but swimming in the rivers is dangerous: the current is strong and the bottom unpredictable.
• Village life. Villages with mud walls, vines in the courtyards and teahouses are something visitors to Tashkent rarely see.

For weekend cottagers and regular travellers

Many Tashkent residents travel to the south of the region every week, to their country plots, to parents or to work. For regular trips it helps to:

1. Find a regular driver. On Yo'ldosh you can see who drives your route regularly and book a seat in advance.
2. Agree on a pick-up point. It is easier to get in near a metro station or a major stop on the way out of town than to go to the bus station.
3. Share costs. If you drive yourself, take a look at the for drivers page: you can take passengers and cover part of your fuel costs.

Practical tips

• Cash. Not all minibuses and district bazaars accept cards.
• Summer heat. The south of the region is very hot in summer. Travel in the morning and keep water handy.
• Winter fog. In winter thick fog settles over the valley, especially in the mornings, so allow more time.
• Luggage. If you are carrying lots of bags or bazaar shopping, choose a taxi or a shared ride with a boot.
• Prices. Fares for minibuses, taxis and shared rides change, so check before you travel.

Can you combine Buka and Akkurgan?

Both towns are in the same part of the region, but there is little direct transport between them. If you want to visit both in a day, it is easier to hire a car for a few hours or arrange it with a driver. If you only need one town, go directly from Tashkent and come back the same way.

The way back to Tashkent

On Sunday evenings and public holidays there are traffic jams on the way into Tashkent. To avoid them, leave the district town early, by 3 or 4 pm, or alternatively late in the evening. You can find a ride back in advance on the routes page.

Buka and Akkurgan are the near south of the Tashkent region, easy to visit for a day or a weekend. The key is picking the right time to leave the capital, and then the trip takes only about an hour.

Cover photo: Thomasdespin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.